Re-finishing a gas grill

[Conan The Librarian]

Our gas grill is over 20 years old, has been used quite a bit, has been kept outdoors. It looks pretty bad, but it works fine. I replaced the innards a couple of years ago and I keep replacing parts as needed. I don't see any reason to replace it.
 
But it looks really bad. It's got some grease spatter on the outside. The paint is mostly gone.
 
I'd like to refinish it to get it looking close to new again.
 
Can you give me some tips for painting the outside? It's going to be hot, of course, and the paint will need to resist that heat.  The parts that don't get hot can be glossy spray paint, I suppose.
 
 

[Bugflipper]

I took a wire brush to mine. Knocked off all the clinging paint I could. Then a palm sander with 80 grit on it. Sprayed it off with the hose. Squirted oven cleaner to degrease it. Rinsed, turned on the grill and once it got heated up sprayed 2000 degree paint on it from the auto parts store. It's a ceramic paint that withstands high heat. Baking it on makes it bond better. When I do headers I start up the vehicle and then spray. It seems to dry about instantly. They do make a grill pain but only rated for 1000 degrees. I doubt a grill gets that hot, but they are the same price and the ceramic paint has always worked good for me.

[Bugflipper]

BTW that was about 5 years ago. The paint was just a flat black. It started oxidizing so I put another coat on it this spring without any prep besides squirting the dust off with a hose and heating back up. Here is the type of paint. http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248903-Automotive-12-Ounce-Degree/dp/B003CT4AKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341521834&sr=8-1&keywords=rust+oleum+2000+degree+paint


The inside paint job still looks like it is in good shape.

[Old Syko]

That 2000 degree rustoleum works well and is offered in flat black, red, orange, and grey for sure because that is what I have on the bench.  No idea if any other colors are available but the stuff works well.  I always sandblast first but that may not be an option for everybody.  Also not necessary to preheat before spraying.  Don't think I ever did before.


Bugflipper, back in the day when we all wanted headers chalk white, we found we could paint them with Ford Blue engine paint of a particular brand.  Don't remember what that brand was right now.  After a short run time to get them up to temperature they would be a beautiful chalk white.

[powderman]

Wall mart carries grill paint in black to take the heat. Also chk automotive for hi temp paint. POWDERMAN. 

[blind ear]

Check the price of engine exhaust manifold paint:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=exhaust+manifold+paint
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High temperature paint:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=exhaust+manifold+paint#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=high+temperature++paint&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ahigh+temperature++paint

[tobster]

I've actually seen a kit that supposedly has everything you need. Ever consider taking it to the car wash to clean it before you hit it with high temp paint?

[Conan The Librarian]

Thanks for the tips! I appreciate it. Makes me want to paint some racing stripes on my grill.
 
Actually, one kind of paint I like, and it may be available in high temp is that light gray with dark spatters in it. That stuff can get absolutely filthy and still look reasonably good.

[Victor3]

 You know, I generally keep stuff 'till the wheels fall off but it's so nice to get me a new BBQ every five years or so that I've never taken the time to refinish one. One of few items I just haul to the curb without a thought.
 
 Can't afford a new car very often but I can spring for a new 'Q now and again. 

[powderman]

You know, I generally keep stuff 'till the wheels fall off but it's so nice to get me a new BBQ every five years or so that I've never taken the time to refinish one

 
HEH. I've had my gas grill 5 years now, first gas I ever had. My old charcoal smoker was held together with baling wire and bit of scrap metal and aluminum foil in the btm of the pan to keep the charcoal from falling out. Letting go the charcoal was a hard thing to do. I reckon I got lazy after using the gas grill, cause I haven't used a charcoal grill since I got the gas, even though I have a charcoal grill and 3 bags of charcoal. POWDERMAN. 

[blind ear]

Went to MegaBox yesterday and looked at grills. Most of them felt like they would fall over when I touched them. Many of them had obviously broken parts from simply sitting on display. Many were hard to OPEN and CLOSE. Operationf functions were a joke and the materials they were made of was next to tinfoil. Overall I didn't see a grill that I would buy for any price. ALL a bunch of junk.
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Looking for a functional grill that won't implode. ear

[OldSchoolRanger]

ear - I have a Weber grill, been using it for the last 14 years, only had to replaced the igniter.  Took it completely apart about 5 years ago to really clean out the grease.  Solid, and easy to get replacement parts.  IMO the best gas grill on the market.  Only bad thing, a little on the expensive side, but in the long run worth it.

[blind ear]

Thanks OldSchoolRanger but I don't want to spend as much for the larger cooking area that I want as a Webber cost. I have cooked on a large webber and smaller ones and they all preformed as advertised, just too expensive for the large ones. I will be glad (rather I hope) when I get a torch and welder set up again.
Thanks again, ear

[tobster]

I have been using the same gas grill I bought at a yard sale for $20.00 bucks, including a partial tank of fuel, for several years. Most of the burners and grill racks have been replaced at least once. The down side is the war dept .doesn't understand the need for 2 or 3 "donor"grills sitting behind the garage.

[victorcharlie]

Try stove black.....
http://stovepaint.com/